"Everyone around our football program has high expectations for the 2012 season," Burke said. "We have worked very hard over the past four years to improve our personnel, facilities and every phase of our program, which is evident.

"Our student-athletes, alumni, fans, coaching staff and administration all expect to see the program move forward and take a step up the postseason ladder.

"Currently, our performance has kept us from reaching our goals. But we have a third of the season left to play, and our focus is to achieve that consistency over the remaining four games. We need to press forward, converting potential into results and having fun playing Boilermaker football."

Hope's contract runs through 2016 after he was awarded a two year extension in December.

Expectations were high for Hope's fourth team.

Coming off a victory in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl over Western Michigan and returning the most starters of any Big Ten team, the Boilermakers were in position to challenge for the league's Leaders Division title.

With Ohio State and Penn State ineligible because of NCAA sanctions, this was a prime opportunity for Hope's team to challenge for a spot in the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis.

However, blowout home losses to Michigan and Wisconsin, an overtime setback at Ohio State and Saturday's embarrassing loss at Minnesota have left Purdue 0-4 at the midway point of the Big Ten season.

Time is quickly running out for the Boilermakers to salvage the season, and possibly Hope's job.

"Hopefully, the lights are on now," fifth-year senior Kawann Short said following the 44-28 loss to the Golden Gophers. "We need three more wins to become bowl eligible. Again, we have to go out and try to fight and scratch and claw and do what we need to do to scratch up a win."

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NCAAF Team Report - Purdue - NOTES, QUOTES

--Riding a four-game losing streak and searching for answers, coach Danny Hope said Robert Marve will start at quarterback when Purdue hosts Penn State.

It will be Marve's second start after guiding the Boilermakers to a season-opening victory over Eastern Kentucky. Marve replaced Caleb TerBush in the third quarter of the 44-28 loss at Minnesota. The sixth-year senior, who is playing with a torn ACL, completed 11 of 19 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns. He suffered a third knee injury Sept. 8 at Notre Dame.

"Robert got a chance to play (Saturday), and he played very well," Hope said Sunday.

Hope said he's making the change "based on competition." The fourth-year coach said there's never been a quarterback controversy during his tenure and blamed the media, in part, for fueling the notion.

"It has been a management nightmare from an injury standpoint for the guys to get the reps that they needed," Hope said. "It's unfortunate, at times, the media can spin it like it's a quarterback controversy and our fans embrace that perception, if you will. It's been competition all along."

--Purdue was 6-6 in the regular season last year before playing the bowl game. In order to surpass last year's total, the Boilermakers would have to win their last four games against Penn State, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana.

"It's a challenge," said fifth-year senior Crosby Wright. "It's something we think we can do because of our team's mindset. We realize the position that we're in. We understand what we have to do the rest of the way. At this point, just making sure we that we keep working hard and trying our best to execute."

--Hope isn't afraid of high expectations.

"We're always going to set our goals high," he said. "I think our fan base, our team and our administration would be disappointed if we decided to set our goals for mediocre. That's not our goals. Sometimes that's the level we play at, but it's not our goals and not our ambition."

SERIES HISTORY: Penn State leads Purdue 11-3-1. (The Nittany Lions have won the last five meetings.)

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The Boilermakers will have a new starting quarterback when Penn State visits Ross-Ade Stadium. Coach Danny Hope tabbed Robert Marve as the starter one day after the 16-point loss at Minnesota. It will be Marve's second start of the season. The Boilermakers have scored on their first possession the last three games, but the production has tailed off quickly.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: One week after playing well against Ohio State, the Boilermakers returned to form against Minnesota. Poor tackling, no pressure on the quarterback and missed assignments. Now, Purdue has to deal with a revitalized Penn State offense, led by QB Matt McGloin, who is the Big Ten's leading passer.